Brunner Calls for Timetable to Bring Troops Home from Afghanistan
11.30.2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2009
Contact: Jennifer Brunner Committee
David Dettman, 614-255-4255
U.S. Sen. Candidate Jennifer Brunner Calls for Timetable to Bring Troops Home from Afghanistan
Says Continued Cost to America and Ohio is "Unacceptable"
U.S. Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner today called for America to set a timetable for "bringing our troops home from Afghanistan as soon as possible" and she questioned the cost and course of an expanded war.
Her comments come on the eve of President Obama's scheduled address to the nation in which he is expected to call for deployment of 30,000 or more additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
While praising the performance of America's all-volunteer military and acknowledging the complexity of the task facing the President, Brunner said the impact of continuing the status quo is simply unacceptable.
"As the cost to American and Ohioans' lives increases, billions are spent each month on the conflict in Afghanistan, ballooning our national debt and diverting resources we desperately need here at home," she wrote in a posting today at Huffington Post and DailyKos.
"So far, of the 4,367 military deaths in Iraq and 928 military deaths in Afghanistan, Ohio has sacrificed more than 200 lives in military deaths and $33 billion to fund wars on these fronts--priceless loss to Ohio's future and $33 billion from a state with unemployment exceeding 10 percent. Looking just at the dollars, had we invested these funds, Ohio could have funded roughly 6 million Pell Grants, or hired a half million elementary school teachers or provided completely free health care for one year for every woman, man and child in the state."
Brunner also doubted that Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is the leader whose advice America should follow, noting his "previous association with the abuse of detainees" and his role in misleading the public about the death of Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who enlisted in the Army after September 11. The Army covered up a story about Tillman's death, calling him a hero who died at the hands of the enemy and even awarded him a posthumous Silver Star. The truth revealed that Tillman was killed by friendly fire.
The President's expected call to send an extra 30,000 U.S. troops would fall short of the 40,000 requested by McChrystal but would still represent a significant increase in the number of U.S troops deployed.
"Change is needed," Brunner said, "and our nation can help lead the way, but direct responsibility for Afghanistan's future must be placed with its people and its government. Economic development, building a robust civil society, increasing the transparency and effectiveness of Afghan governmental institutions, and increased regional diplomacy, rather than more troops, must be part of the equation."
Brunner laid much of the blame for the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan on President George W. Bush.
"It's been eight long years since President Bush mistakenly led us into Iraq with false claims of 'weapons of mass destruction,'" she said. "Yet, we face years of cost for these eight long years--in ensuring for our veterans and their families continuing job and housing support and for health care for those physically and mentally injured. It's no wonder that the soldier suicide rate has increased yearly for the fourth straight year, and rates of divorce increased in 2008 among military personnel, especially for women armed services members."
Brunner called for President Obama and Congress to define success in Afghanistan through clear, measurable and realistic outcomes.
"Eight years and nearly a trillion dollars of our tax money--gone. More than 5,200 American lives--also gone. It's time to say, 'Enough.' It's time to employ more than military and mercantile strategies in Afghanistan and set a timetable to bring our troops home from Afghanistan."
Jennifer Brunner is Ohio's current secretary of state and has won national acclaim for restoring integrity and accountability to Ohio's elections. She is seeking the Democratic Party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. George Voinovich who announced he will not seek re-election.
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